Allerdale

Allerdale's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in average age, health and work life.

The population passed 96,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Allerdale increased by 3.1%, from almost 93,500 to 96,400.

The addition of about 2,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Allerdale was home to, on average, 0.56 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the North West's third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Allerdale

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Allerdale increased by four years, from 41 to 45 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 14% of people in Allerdale are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Allerdale by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Allerdale

The number of people in Allerdale from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 93,000 in 2001 to just over 95,000 in 2011. As a share of the total population, the percentage remained close to 99%.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from this ethnic group fell from 94% to 90%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

The number of people in Allerdale from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 240 in 2001 to about 480 in 2011 (from 0.3% to 0.5%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 230 to about 430 (from 0.3% to 0.4%).

About 73 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 45 in 2001 (0.1%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Allerdale remained close to 99%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Allerdale by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Allerdale residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10% to 6.3% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Allerdale residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Allerdale decreased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Allerdale, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Allerdale working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 9.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Allerdale decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Allerdale, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in Allerdale at a faster rate than across England.

In Allerdale, the proportion of households without children increased from 61% in 2001 to 64% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 61% to 61%.

Across the North West, the share of households without children increased from 59% to 61%.

The proportion of households with children in Allerdale fell from 28% to 26%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 11% to 10%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households that without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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